Old Clothes and Stale Coffee

Chapter 109 - He Would Have to Face it Sooner or Later

He Would Have to Face it Sooner or Later

”O, nagmumukmok ka pa rin?” the professor asked as we made our way to his brother-in-law’s house. “Look, okay na si Nathan, hindi na s’ya tumatakas, at hindi na rin n’ya inaaway ang mga tao sa kanila,” he informed me once more. “In short, effective ang mga gamot na nireseta natin sa kan’ya. Hindi na s’ya tinatablan ng pair withdrawal symptoms.”

“Be that as it may, I still need to give him a full check-up, particularly an MRI. According to my calculations, he has already developed an ovary and may even be pregnant right now.”

“Magagawa mo rin `yun, mahal, though I hope what you’re wrong this time,” he told me. “God knows what Nathan would do if he finds out that he’s pregnant. Lalo ngayon at iniwan s’ya ni Reubert.”

“It is inevitable, he would have to face it sooner or later.”

“If – he is pregnant,” he insisted.

I gave Eric a quick glance. I know that he still refuses to accept that his nephew might actually have developed a womb.

I was not able to conclude my research since I could not acquire new blood samples from his nephew, but with all the evidence present – the rise in female hormones, the physical changes in Nathan’s body, even his moodiness, it is enough to conclude that changes have taken place.

“O, natahimik ka nanaman?”

“I am just thinking how nice it would be to see you apologize to me when I prove to you that you are wrong.”

Eric merely laughed.

“Lagi mo naman ako’ng nasusupalpal, eh. Madalas na `kong mapahiya sa `yo. Pero...” his voice became serious, “ayoko talagang isipin na totoo ito. Ayoko’ng madagdagan pa ang problema ng pamangkin ko.”

“It is true that he may not be able to accept it, but if we don’t take samples and tell him soon...”

“Alam ko, siguradong lalo s’yang magagalit `pag pinatagal pa natin `to,” he took a deep sigh. “Kaya namo-mroblema ako ngayon kung pa’no `to sasabihin sa kan’ya.”

“Why don’t we talk to Louie first?”

“`Yun din ang iniisip ko. Mula nang mag-heart-to-heart ang mag-ama, mukhang naging close na sila, kaya umaasa ako’ng mas madali n’yang matatanggap ang lahat – kung meron man, mind you, kung si Louie ang magsasabi nito sa kan’ya.”

“Then let us talk to Louie later.”

“Ako na ang kakausap sa kan’ya,” said Eric, “But please, `wag ngayon. Gusto ko maging masaya tayong lahat sa araw na `to. Even if it could be the last one.”

“Happy birthday Nat-Nat!” Eric greeted his nephew as soon as he opened the gate. “Ano, bente ka na! `Di ka na teenager!”

“Thank you tito, may regalo po kayo sa `kin?” Nathan asked with a grin.

“Eto, pinagluto kita ng paborito mo’ng kalamay. May langka `yan, tulad ng lagi mo’ng request sa `kin.”

“Tito talaga, ilang taon na `yun!?” he laughed, “Pero salamat, paborito ko talaga ang kakanin mo!”

He smiled gently at his uncle who looked fondly at him. I guess he really has sobbered up since we last saw him  four days ago.

We went straight to the kitchen where Eric placed his kalamay on the kitchen counter. Bless served it to us later, with the help of her boyfriend Miles.

It was just a simple celebration. We ate, sang songs, and later on, waved the family goodbye as I left unfulfilled.

“Did you get to talk to Louie about Nathan?” I asked Eric as we drove home.

“Nope,” he replied, rubbing his bulging tummy, “Pero nasabi ko’ng kailangan naming mag-usap nang masinsinan kasama ni Nathan,” he added, then burped. “Ahh, ang dami nang nakain ko, at napansin mo ba sina Louie? Lahat sila nagtatabaan!”

”Joshua is a good cook,” I replied. ”Though the fat in Nathan’s body, if you noticed, are mostly in the hip and chest area.”

“Oo, napansin ko nga...” he fell silent. “May natira ka pa bang blood sample ni Nathan? Gusto ko’ng ma-check ang research mo.”

“I’m afraid I have used them all up.”

“Dapat pala nakakuha na tayo kanina...”

“But you told me not to mention anything about the experiment to Nathan today.”

“Oo, alam ko... haay... I guess I’ll have to make do with your findings.”

Eric did just that.

He meticulously checked my notes and studied my theories when we got home, making conclusions of his own.

“Sa tingin ko, hindi naman basta-basta tutubuan ng matres ang isang alpha kung wala pa silang isang buwan nagsasama ng mate n’ya,” he insisted.

“On the contraty, it only takes 2 weeks for a male eel to develop a uterus.”

“Eh, hindi naman eels ang pinag-uusapan natin, eh!”

“Well, it takes a newly awoken omega only 3 weeks to fully develop one. I merely placed the time line at 4 weeks to make sure.”

“Ugh... mukhang nagiging heteromorphic nga ang s*x chromosomes n’ya... hindi malayong magpalit s’ya ng sex...”

“Yet his alpha genes are still present.”

“Kung gayon... isa nga ito’ng bagong mutation...”

“See?” I look at him smugly.

“I see alright... nakikita ko na si Nathan na nagwawala dahil tinutubuan s’ya ng matres!”

“And may actually be pregnant already!”

Eric gave a long sigh.

“Sige, I’ll call Louie up, mag schedule tayo ng araw para mabisita nila tayo sa UL.”

And so, I eagerly await the day I can finally conclude my experiment.

I have already taken care of everything; the MRI schedule, the equipment, the convinient excuse as to how he accuired it, and of course, why I was expecting it. Luck was also on my side, for the schedule came earlier than expected.

“Katatawag ko lang kay Louie,” Eric told me on Monday, “Tumigil pala si Nathan sa pag-aaral. Gusto raw muna nito’ng magpahinga.”

“Then we can ask them to come over any time?” I asked, delighted.

“Oo, at nang nalaman ni Nathan na balak natin s’yang i-check-up, eh, magsasama pa raw s’ya ng kaibigan.”

“A friend?”

“Oo. Isang r**e victim daw na baka matulungan ng experiment mo.”

“Why?” I looked at Eric. “Was he bitten?”

Eric gave a sigh.

“Oo. Akala daw nila nang una, walang bonding na naganap, pero nagpapakita na raw ng withdrawal symptoms ang kaibigan n’ya ngayon, about 3 weeks after being bitten..

“Three weeks? Isn’t that a bit too long for pair withdrawal to manifest?”

“Nagbunga raw kasi ang r**e sa kan’ya, kaya siguro natagalan ito, due to the changes in his hormone levels.”

“Hmm, come to think of it, this is fairly common in omega r**e cases,” I said thoughtfully. “So, when can we meet them?”

“Mamaya,” answered Eric. “Pareho silang nag drop-out sa school, kaya free sila ngayon.” He looked at his watch. “Mga alas-dies daw nandito na sila.”

“But it’s already 9:45!” I sat up and placed my notes away, “I need to re-schedule the use of the MRI machine!”

“`Wag kang mag-alala, nagpasabi na `ko kay Pedro.”

“I still need to prepare additional materials for samples...”

“All done.”

Eric held up two specimen bags.

“Thank you, I guess you have everything prepeared.”

“Oo, napansin ko kasi, nagtatampo ka na sa `kin.”

”Of course not!” I quickly denied, ”I simply felt a little impatient about things. And disappointed. This is an on-going experiment after all.”

“Kaya nga `wag ka nang magtampo ha?” he said, leaning on my shoulder. “Mabuti na rin at may kasamang buntis si Nathan, p’wede nating gamitin ang kaibigan n’ya para maitago ang pregnancy result ni Nathan – if buntis nga rin siya.”

I looked at Eric and sighed. He really is trying to deny this pregnancy, for his nephew’s sake. Well, I can’t wait to prove him wrong.

And I will soon.

“Welcome, Nathan, Louie, and you must be the young omega?”

“Dr. Abdel, kaibigan ko po, si Jaydie Daniel.”

“Jaydie, nice to meet you.”

I reached out my hand to the feeble looking young man who was holding on tightly to Nathan’s left arm. He does not seem to want to let go of him.

“Jaydie, magpakilala ka muna kay doc.”

”H-hello po...” he said softly.

I notice that he was slightly trembling. His amber eyes were like that of a wild animal.

He is definitely in withdrawal.

“O, maayos na ang examination room sa baba,” Eric called from behind us, “ doon na tayo mag-usap.”

“Kailangan ba talagang pati ako nandito?” asked Louie.

“Oo, importante ang pag-uusapan natin.” Eric looked at Jaydie, “Medyo personal ito, actually.”

“Okay lang, tito, mapagkakatiwalaan ko naman si Jaydie,” Nathan said, while his friend turned red.

“Kung sigurado ka, eh, sumunod na kayo sa `kin.”

We went one floor down, to the examination division, where we had the two young men change into hospital gowns. We had a bit of trouble getting Jaydie to let go of Nathan, though. I had to release some of my calming pheromones to ease him up.

“Sandali lang kayo’ng mahihiwalay, bumitaw ka na.” Eric told him, starting to get irritated.

“It’s okay, we can help you. Can you describe to me how you feel right now?” I asked.

He simply looked at me.

“Pasensya na, may trauma pa si Mr. Daniel dahil sa nangyari sa kan’ya,” Louie excused him. “He was actually... targeted by Dan.”

“Ha?!” Eric reacted. “Pano naman s’ya na dawit sa demonyo’ng `yun?”

Nathan looked at his friend before speaking.

“Naalala n’yo po, nawala ang cellphone ko?” he asked his uncle. “Na kay Dan po pala `yun. Tinawagan n’ya si Jaydie at nakipagkita sa kan’ya... tapos...” he trailed off.

“Pucha, ibig mong sabihin, `yung tarantadong kaibigan mo rin ang may kagagawan nito?!”

Upon saying this, Eric touched Jaydie’s shoulder and swiped his hair to look at the dark bite mark embedded on his nape.

“`W-wag po!” the young man started to shake uncontrollably. He folded upon himself, squatting on the ground, and started moaning.

“Tito naman!” Nathan glared at him. “Jaydie, `wag ka’ng mag-alala! Mabait si tito, tutulungan ka nila.”

“We can give him the double suppressants, it might help with the separation and pair withdrawal.” I suggested. “It is safe even for pregnant omegas.”

Jaydie looked up when he heard this.

“H-how did you know?” he asked.

“I told them about it,” said Nathan.

“Actually, we are still looking for the father,” said Louie, “kinuhanan na namin ng DNA and bite samples ang mga suspects na nahuli sa bar ni Dan kung saan s’ya nabiktima, but we need to wait for the baby to come out before we could check for DNA.”

“How about taking him to meet the suspects?” I suggested, “he can naturally tell who he’s bonded with.”

“Tama, since may posibility rin na iba ang tatay ng bata sa naka-bond sa kan’ya.” dagdag ko.

“Ano ba, maging sensitive naman kayo, pwede?!” snapped Nathan who was still comforting his friend.

“Tama, hindi ito ang panahon para pag-usapan `yan,” said Louie. “Ano ba ang dahilan at gusto ninyo kaming makausap?”

“Tungkol ito sa natuklasan namin kay Nathan,” said Eric who looked at me.

“From Nathan’s blood samples, we have detected some changes that might greatly impact his body.”

“Anong changes?” Nathan asked.

“Physical changes, in your abdominopelvic cavity, which we need to check through an MRI scan,” I concluded, “But before that, we need to get your blood, pheromone, urine and sperm samples to make sure you are healthy.”

“Dahil pa rin ba `to sa overdose ko dati?” he asked.

“In a way.” I replied, “Also, for the certain changes I told you about.”

I looked at his friend Jaydie next.

“I will require the same with you, so that I can give you a proper diagnosis. Go ahead and proceed to the comfort rooms next door, and please try to calm yourself as well.”